Adjustable press ram



May 19, 1964. H. G. HECHT 3,133,494

ADJUSTABLE PRESS RAM l vFiled Jan. 24, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l .W 1.o so son.

Fig. 1 Fig. 2

`as FQ-5 es h:

92 93 Flg. 6

May 19, 1964 Filed Jan. 24, 1962 H. G. HECHT ADJUSTABLE PRESS RAM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HELMUT G. HEC/J7' United States Patent Office 3,133,494 Patented May 19, 1964 3,133,494 ADEUSTABLE PRESS RAM Helmut G. Hecht, Goppingen, Wurtteinberg, Germany, assignor to May-Pressenbau GmbH, Schwabisch, Gmund, Germany Filed Jan. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 168,467

Claims priority, application Germany Jan. 27, 1961 15 Claims. (Cl. 1041-257) The present invention relates to an adjustable press ram, and more particularly to the adjustable press ram of a toggle lever press.

It is known to provide presses with adjustable press rams, but the known constructions serving this purpose require separate manually operated adjusting means, each of which has to be set and then locked in adjusted position. This results in a complicated construction, and in a great number of threaded parts which, due to the unavoidable play, results in inaccurate adjustments.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome these disadvantages of the known adjustable press rams, and to provide an adjustable press ram whose length can be adjusted in a simple manner and with great accuracy.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable press ram which can be easily adjusted, and locked in the adjusted position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a press ram which can be easily adjusted in such a manner that its distance from the press table can be accurately determined in an end position of the press ram.

With these objects in view, the present invention relates to a press having an adjustable press member which comprises a driven guide part, and a ram part guided in the guide part so as to be adjustable relative to the same. One of the parts has a thread means and the other part has abutment means, preferably in the form of two spaced confronting abutment shoulders. A first threaded` member and a second threaded member engage the thread means and are movable on the same, when turned, between end positions abutting the'abutment means. Operating means are provided for turning the first and second threaded members simultaneously in the same direction so that the ram part is moved and adjusted relative to the guide part while one of the threaded members abuts the abutment means. The operating means can also be operated in such a manner as to turn one of the threaded members independently of the other threaded member whereby the turned threaded' member moves relative to the ram part and the guide part between the releasing positions spaced from the abutment means and a locking position abutting the abutment means and preventing relative movement between the ram` part and the guide part.

The operating means preferably include manually operated coupling means movable between la coupling position connecting the first and second threaded members for turning movement, and a disengaged position disconnecting the two threaded members, so that only one threaded member is turned by the operating means. The operating means may be provided in the form of a hand wheel, or a drive motor may be used for heavier presses.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the threaded members are nut rings surrounding the ram part which has a thread on the outer peripheral surface thereof. The nut rings have worm gear means on the outer periphery thereof which mesh with worm screw means controlled by the operating means. The nut rings are located in an annular recess of the guide part which is bounded by two confronting abutment shoulders, the abutment shoulders being spaced such a distance that only a small gap remains between the two nut rings when the same respectively abut the two confronting abutment shoulders in a locking position in which the ram part is locked to the guide part, and in which the press member is operated.

The novel features which are considered as characteristie for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view, partially in section on line 1-1 in FIG. 2, and illustrating one embodiment of a press incorporating the present invention;

F FIG. 2 is a side View of the embodiment shown in IG. l;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional View on an enlarged scale and taken on line 3 3 in FIG. 2; l

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5 5 in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to FlG. 5, but illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 5, a press frame 10 has a base 11, two lateral parts 12 and 13, and a top part 14. As best seen in FIG. 3, each lateral part comprises two guide members 18 and 19 provided with guide ways 20 and 21 along which the outer guide part 25 of the movable press member slides in vertical direction during operation of the press.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the toggle-lever system by which the press member is operated. A longer toggle-lever 28 and a shorter toggle-lever 29 are connected by a joint 31D. Toggle-lever 28 is articulated by a shaft 31 to the outer guide part 25 of the movable press member, and togglelever 29 is turnably mounted on a shaft 32 which is supported by the frame of the machine. The toggle-levers are driven by rotary crank wheel 35 which is connected by a connecting rod 36 to the shorter toggle-lever 29. Crank wheel 35 is rotated through a gear transmission 11a, and a motor 11b whichI are disposed in the hollow base part of the press frame.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the outer guide part 25 of the press member is hollow and surrounds an inner ram part 6l) which has a thread on the outer peripheral surface thereof. A die can be mounted in the lower portion 61V of ram part 60 to cooperate with another die mounted on the stationary xed press table 62.

The end positions of the outer guide part 25 of the movable press member are determined by the toggle lever system. Inaccordance with the present invention, ther inner rain part 60 can be adjusted within guide part 25 to vary the distance between the inner ram part and the press table 62 in the end positions of the press member. Ram part 60 has cylindrical guide faces slidably guided on corresponding cylindrical guide faces 25a and 25h of the outer guide part 25. Slide face 25a is provided on a bushing set into guide part 25, and slide surface 25h is provided on a sleeve 42 which is secured to guide part 25 by a locking ring 43 located in an annular recess of guide part 25. The upper edge of sleeve 42 forms an annular shoulder 45 confronting the annular shoulder 4t) of guide part 25 so that an annular recess 41 is formed in the interior of guide part 25. Annular recess 41 surrounds the thread 60a of ram part 60.

Two ring-shaped nut means 50 and 52 are turnably mounted on thread 60a and located in annular recess 41. The axial height of nut meansSt) and 52 is selected in such a manner that a small gap a remains between the nut means 50 and 52.

As best seen in FIG. 4, nut means 5G has a worm gear 50a, and nut means 52 has a worm gear 52a about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface thereof. Self-locking worm screw means 66 and 65 mesh with the worm screws 50a and 52a. The shafts 68 and 67 of the worm screw means are mounted in bearings on the guide part 25, FIG. 3 showing the bearings 76 and 71 for the shaft 67.

A gear 75 is mounted on shaft 67 freely turnable, but non-movable in axial direction, while a gear 76 is fixedly secured to shaft 65. Gear 75 has a coupling portion 78 which cooperates with a movable coupling member 82 which is mounted on shaft 67 non-turnably, but shiftable in axial direction. A hand wheel 83 is secured to the free end of shaft 67 in the embodiment of FG. 5.

In the modified embodiment of FIG. 6, a drive motor 90 is provided for rotating shaft 67 A manually operated lever 91 is turnable about a pivot pin 92 on a bracket 93 which projects from guide part 25. The upper end of lever 91 is fork-shaped and has two slide pins 94 engaging an annular groove 95 in the axially shiftable coupling member 82. A corresponding coupling lever is provided in the embodiment of FIG. 5. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the axially shiftable coupling member SEZ is also provided with a groove into which the forked end of the operating lever 91 projects.

The press member according to the present invention is adjusted in the following manner. FIGS. l and 4 show n the nut means 543 and 52 in a locking position respectively abutting the shoulders 45 and 4t) so that ram part 66 is locked in guide part 25. In the end position of guide part 25, a die inserted into the lower portion 61 of ram part 60 will have a certain distance from the fixed press table 62, and from a die mounted thereon. If it is dcsired to adjust this distance, the coupling means 78, 32 is placed in a disengaged position by shifting coupling member 82 to the right as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 6. Since gear 75 is freely turnable on shaft 67, turning of shaft 67 by hand wheel 83 or of shaft 67' by motor 96, will not effect turning of gear 75 so that gear 76, and shaft 68 secured thereto, will not turn. Only worm screw 65 turns, and effects turning movement of nut 52, while nut 50 remains in the initial position. The turning direction is chosen in such a manner that nut 52 moves toward nut 50 which is possible due to the gap a between the nuts 50 and 52. The ram part 66 is no longer locked in this position of the locking nut 52, but has not changed its axial position, since the lower adjusting nut 56 still rests on shoulder 45.

In order to adjust the position of the ram part 66 relative to the guide part 25, and thereby relative to the press table 62, coupling member 82 is shifted to the left as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 6 to the coupling position engaging coupling portions 73 of gear 25.

When hand wheel 83, or motor 90 are now operated, shaft 67, or 67', respectively, turns gear 75 through coupling member 82, and since gear 75 meshes with gear 76, shaft 68 is also turned at the same speed as shaft 67.

The worm screw thread 65 is left-handed, and the worm screw thread 67 is right-handed so that nut rings 50 and 52 are turned simultaneously in the same direction of rotation when the coupling means S2, 78 is in the coupling position. Since both nut rings 56 and 52 turn simultaneously, they have the effect of a single nut so that ram part 60, which is prevented by suitable means, such as a conventional key or pin slidably guided in an axially extending groove, from turning movement, moves in axial direction to an adjusted position. Depending on the direction of rotation of shaft 67 (67') ram part 60 will move up or down to an adjusted position spaced a desired distance from the stationary press table 62. Since nut ring 50 abuts shoulder 45 during adjustment of the ram position, any influence of the play between the that nut 56 is pressed against shoulder 45.

parts is completely eliminated so that lver-y accurate adjustments can be effected.

After ram part 69 has been placed in the desired adjusted position, coupling member 82 is again shifted to the disconnected position, so that only shaft 67 or 67 with worm screw 65 is turned by drive means 83 or 90. The direction of rotation is selected to be opposite to the direction of rotation by which the release of the locking nut 5G was effected, so that locking nut 52 is turned on gear 25a until it again abuts shoulder 40 in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. In this locking position, all parts are stressed to abut each other under pressure so In this manner, the effect of any play between the thread of nuts 50 and 52 and thread 25 is completely eliminated, without any displacement of the adjustment nut 56 and of the ram part 69. To render the locking absolutely reliable, it is advantageous to permit a certain small play between the threads of the adjusting nut 5t). In the illustrated em-A bodiment, gears 75 and 76 directly mesh with each other so that left-handed and right-handed worm screws 65 and 66 are required. If an intermediate gear is provided between gears 75 and 76, shafts 67 and 63 will turn in the same direction, and right-handed worm screws can be used on both shafts.

From the above description of preferred embodiments of the invention, it will become apparent that the operating means by which the threaded means 50 and 52 are turned include drive means 83, 90, coupling means 78, 80, 82, worm screw means 65 and 66 and worm screw gears 56a and 52a.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of presses differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a press member including a ram part, a guide part, and two threaded means for adjusting the relative position between the ram part and the guide part, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a press, in combination, a press member comprising a ram part having a thread; a first nut means and a second nut means threadedly engaging said thread; a guide part having abutment means cooperating with at least one of said nut means; and operating means connected to said first and second nut means for turning said first and second nut means simultaneously in the same direction so that said ram part is moved relative to said guide part while one of said nut means abuts said abutment means, and for turning at least one of said nut means separately whereby said one nut means moves relative to said ram part and to said guide part between a releasing position spaced from said abutment means and a locking position abutting said abutment means and preventing relative movement between said ram part and said guide part.

2. In a press, in combination, a press member comprising a ram part having a thread on the periphery thereof;l

a first nut means and a second nut means surrounding said ram part and threadedly engaging said thread; a guide part for guiding said ram part in the axial direct-ion of said thread and having abutment means cooperating with said first and second nut means; and operating means mounted on said guide part connected to said first and second nut means for turning said rst and second nut means simultaneously in the same direction so that said ram part is moved relative to said guide part while one of said nut means abuts said abutment means, and for turning at least one of said nut means separately whereby said one nut means moves relative to said ram part and to said guide part between a releasing position spaced hom said abutment means and a locking position abutting said abutment means and preventing relative movement between said ram part and said guide part.

3. In a press, in combination, a press member comprising a ram part having a thread on the periphery thereof; a first nut means anda second nut means surrounding said ram part and threadedly engaging said thread; a guide part for guiding said ram part in the axial direction of said thread and having an annular recess having two confronting abutment means cooperating with said first and second nut means, said first and second nut means being located in said annular recess; and operating means mounted on said guide part connected to said first and second nut means for turning said first and second nut means simultaneously in the same direction so that said ram part is moved relative to said guide part while one of said nut means abuts one of said abutment means, and for turning at least one of said nut means separately whereby said one nut means moves relative to said ram part and to said guide part between a releasing position spaced from the other abutment means and a locking position abutting said other abutment means and preventing relative movement between said ram part and said guide part.

4. In a press, in combination, a press member movable in vertical direction and comprising a ram part having a thread on the periphery thereof; an upper nut means and a lower nut means surrounding said ram part and threadedly engaging said thread and located in horizontal planes; a guide part for guiding said ram part in the axial direction of said thread and having an annular recess having tWo confronting annular abutment shoulders cooperating with said first and second nut means, said first and second nut means being located in said annular recess; and operating means mounted on said guide part connected to said first and second nut means for turning said upper and lower nut means simultaneously in the same direction so that said ram part is moved relative to said guide part while one of said nut means abuts one of said annular abutment shoulders and for turning said upper nut means separately whereby said upper nut means moves relative to said ram part and to said guide part between a releasing position spaced from the other abutment shoulder and a locking position abutting said other abutment shoulder and preventing relative movement between said ram part and said guide part.

5. A press as set forth in claim 4 wherein one of said nut means has play on said thread of said ram part.

y6. In a press, in combination, a press member comprising a rarn part having a thread on the periphery thereof; a first nut means and a second nut means surrounding said ram part and threadedly engaging said thread, said first and second nut means having worm gear means on the outer periphery thereof; a guide part for guiding said ram part in the axial direction of said thread and having abutment means cooperating with at least one of said nut means; and operating means including self-locking worm screws mounted on said guide part connected to said worm gear means of said first and second nut means for turning said first and second nut means simultaneously in the same direction so that said ram part is moved relative to said guide part while one of said nut means abuts said abutment means, and for turning at least one of said nut means separately whereby said one nut means moves relative to said ram part and to said guide part 6 between a releasing position spaced from said abutment means and a locking position abutting said abutment means and preventing relative movement between said ram part and said guide part.

7. In a press, in combination, a press member comprising a ram part having an outer thread on the periphery thereof; a first nut means and a second nut means surrounding said ram part and threadedly engaging said thread, said first and second nut means having worm gear means on the periphery thereof; a guide part for guiding said ram part and having abutment means cooperating with said first and second nut means; rst worm screw means mounted on said guide part and engaging said first worm gear means of said first nut means; second worm screw means mounted on said guide part and engaging said second worm gear means of said second nut means; drive means for turning one of said worm screw means; and coupling means movable to a coupling position connecting said first and second worm screw means for rotation in the same direction so that said first and second nut means are simultaneously turned in the same direction whereby said ram part is moved relative to said guide part While one of said nut means abuts said abutment means, said coupling means being movable to a disconnecting position in which said drive means turns only said one worm screw means and the respective nut means whereby the respective turned nut means moves relative to said ram part and to said guide part between a releasing position spaced from said abutment means and a locking position abutting said abutment means and preventing relative movement between said ram part and said guide part.

8. In a press, in combination, a press member comprising a ram part having an outer thread on the periphery thereof; a first nut ring and a second nut ring surrounding said ram part and threadedly engaging said thread, said first and second nut rings having worm gear means on the periphery thereof; a guide part for guiding said ram part and having an annular recess having two confronting annular abutment shoulders respectively cooperating with said first and second nut rings, said first and second nut rings being located in said annular recess; rst Worm screw means mounted on said guide part and engaging said first worm gear means of said first nut ring; second worm screw means mounted on said guide part and engaging said second worm gear means of said second nut ring; drive means for turning one of said worm screw means; and coupling means movable to a coupling position connecting said first and second worm screw means for rotation in the same direction so that said first and second nut rings are simultaneously turned in the same direction whereby said ram part is moved relative to said guide part while one of said nut rings abuts one of said abutment shoulders, said coupling means being movable to a disconnecting position in which said drive means turns only said one worm screw means and the respective nut ring whereby the respective turned nut ring moves relative to said ram part and to said guide part between a releasing position spaced from the respective other abutment shoulder and a locking position abutting said other abutment shoulder and preventing relative movement between said ram part and said guide part.

9. A press as set forth in claim 8 wherein said worm screw means have left hand thread and right hand thread, respectively; and wherein said coupling means includes a pair of meshing gears on said worm screw means, one of said gears being fiXedly secured to, and 4the other of said gears being freely turnable on the respective worm screw means, and a coupling member for coupling said freely turnable gear to the respective Worm screw means.

l0. A press as set forth in claim 9, wherein said drive means is a manually operated member.

ll. A press as set forth in claim 8, wherein said drive 7 means is an electric motor and wherein said coupling means is manually operated.

12. In a press, in combination, a press member comprising a ram part having a thread; a rst nut means and a second nut means threadedly engaging said thread; a guide part having abutment means cooperating with said rst and second nut means; operating means connected to said rst and second nut `means for turning said rst and second nut means simultaneously in the same direction so that said ram part is moved relative -to said guide part while one of said nut means abuts saidv abutment means, and for turning at least one of said nut means separately whereby said one nut means moves relative to said ram part and to said guide part between a releasing position spaced from -said `abutment means and a locking position abutting said abutment means and preventing relative movement between said ram part land said guide part; a stationary press iframe supporting said press member for movement and having a press table; toggle-lever means connecting said frame with said guide part; and a motor connected to said toggle-lever means for operating the same so that said press member is moved relative to said press frame between two end positions, said ram part being spaced different distances from said press table in said end positions when the yrelative position between said guide part and said ram part is adjusted by said operating means.

13. In a press, in combination, a press member comprising a ram part; a guide part for guiding said ram part, one of said parts having a thread means and the other part havingabutment means; `a rst threaded member and a second threaded member threadedly engaging said thread means and being movable on the same between end positions abutting -said abutment means; and operating means for turning said rst and second threaded members simultaneously in the same direction so that said ram part is moved relative to said -guide part while one of said threaded members abuts said abutment means, and for turning at least one of said threaded members separately and independently of the other threaded member whereby said one threaded member moves relative to said ram part and guide part between a releasing position spaced from said abutment means and a locking position abutting said abutment means and preventing relative movement between said ram part and said guide part.

14. In a press, in combination, a press member cornprising a ram part; a guide part for guiding said ram part, one of said parts having a thread means and the other part having two abutment means spaced in the axial'direction of said thread; a first threaded member and a second threaded member threadedly engaging said thread means and being mov-able on the same between end positions abutting said two abutment means, respectively; and operating means for turning said rst and second threaded members simultaneously in the same direction so that said ram part is moved relative to said guide part while one of said threaded members abuts one of said abutment means, and for turning at least one of said threaded members separately and independently of the other threaded member whereby said one threaded member moves relative to said ram part and guide part between a releasing position spaced from the other abutment means and a locking position abutting said other abutment means and preventing relative movement between said ram part and said guide part.

15. In a press, in combination, a press member comprising a ram part; a guide part for guiding said ram part, one of said parts having a thread means and the other part having two abutment means spaced in the axial direction of said thread; a rst threaded member and a second threaded member threadedly engaging said thread means and being movable on the same between end positions abutting said two abutment means, respectively; and operating means for turning said rst and second threaded members simultaneously in the same direction so that said ram part is moved relative to said guide part while one of said threaded members abuts one of said abutment means, and for turning at least one of said threaded members separately and independently of the other threaded member whereby said one threaded member moves relative to said ram part and guide part between a releasing position spaced from the other abutment means and a locking position abutting said other `abutment means and preventing relative movement between said ram part and said guide part, said operating means including manually oper-ated disengageable coupling means for connecting said rst and second threaded members for turning movement.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 10,461 Merriman Mar. l1, 1884 330,791 Leavitt Nov. 17, 1885 1,749,398 Strout Mar. 4, 1930 2,938,453 Golding May 31, 1960 3,030,878 Holzer Apr. 24, 1962 

1. IN A PRESS, IN COMBINATION, A PRESS MEMBER COMPRISING A RAM PART HAVING A THREAD; A FIRST NUT MEANS AND A SECOND NUT MEANS THREADEDLY ENGAGING SAID THREAD; A GUIDE PART HAVING ABUTMENT MEANS COOPERATING WITH AT LEAST ONE OF SAID NUT MEANS; AND OPERATING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND NUT MEANS FOR TURNING SAID FIRST AND SECOND NUT MEANS SIMULTANEOUSLY IN THE SAME DIRECTION SO THAT SAID RAM PART IS MOVED RELATIVE TO SAID GUIDE PART WHILE ONE OF SAID NUT MEANS ABUTS SAID ABUTMENT MEANS, AND FOR TURNING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID NUT MEANS SEPARATELY WHEREBY SAID ONE NUT MEANS MOVES RELATIVE TO SAID RAM PART AND TO SAID GUIDE PART BETWEEN A RELEASING POSITION SPACED FROM SAID ABUTMENT MEANS AND A LOCKING POSITION ABUTTING SAID ABUTMENT MEANS AND PREVENTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID RAM PART AND SAID GUIDE PART. 